Watts, Blake, Bearne and Co
of Bank Chambers, Union Street, Newton Abbot, Clay Proprietors, Miners and Merchants, etc/
1819 Company established
1904 Death of William John Watts (1814-1904), Partner.[1]
1912 Death of Lt-Col Lewis Edward Bearne (c1854-1912), Partner.[2]
1914 Specialities: Potters' Ball Clay, Stoneware Clay, Pipe Clay, and China Clay, China Stone, Flint and Coal.
1925 Death of Charles B. Blake (c1839-1925), Partner.[3]
During the 1960s, WBB under Claude Pike became a public company, and acquired Devon and Courtenay (which had itself acquired Whiteway and Co.), Newton Abbot Clays and the North Devon Clay Co. As a result, WBB became the largest UK ball clay producer with a share of about 60 % of the total. Since 1990 WBB has operated in Devon through its subsidiary WBB Devon Clays Ltd
1966 Acquired Meeth (North Devon) Clay Co.[4]
2000 Acquired Hepworth Minerals, supplier of industrial silica